Dynamo eyes first road win in Vancouver

The Houston Dynamo is one of three teams in Major League Soccer that has yet to record a win on the road this season, and the club will try to snap that streak at Empire Field on Saturday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

A poor road record like that would normally damage a team's chances at reaching the playoffs, but despite failing to win away from Robertson Stadium this season in 12 games, Houston is just one point back of second-place Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference.

The Dynamo brings a five-game unbeaten streak into the match, and has shown an ability to find goals late in games.

Alex Dixon scored his first MLS goal on the final kick of the game last weekend to help Houston to a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake, while Bobby Boswell's goal in the dying minutes against New England in the previous match helped salvage a 1-1 draw for Dominic Kinnear's team.

"At the beginning of the year, we were just treading water," Kinnear said. "We were going good but not busting through, but now everyone has upped their game. Plus they're having fun. They're undefeated in five and have only one loss in the last 10. I think anytime you get a point and play well, it gives you confidence and the mistakes don't bug them because that confidence is there."

Confidence is something that has not always been evident for Vancouver this season as the Whitecaps enter Saturday's match having lost three of their last four games, with the club having been outscored 10-1 in those three defeats.

The latest setback was a 2-1 defeat to Cascadia Cup rivals Portland in a game that saw Camilo score for the third time in six games for Vancouver.

However, the club will be without its second leading scorer on Saturday because of an accumulation of yellow cards.